Did Islamic extremists start the Australian bushfires?

February 11, 2009

The internet is muttering in hushed tones about the possibility of Islamic fundamentalists being behind the recent Australian bush fire tragedy.

There was a warning about just such an eventuality back in September 2008. See here. Here is an excerpt from the Age article:

AUSTRALIA has been singled out as a target for “forest jihad” by a group of Islamic extremists urging Muslims to deliberately light bushfires as a weapon of terror.

US intelligence channels earlier this year identified a website calling on Muslims in Australia, the US, Europe and Russia to “start forest fires”, claiming “scholars have justified chopping down and burning the infidels’ forests when they do the same to our lands”.

The website, posted by a group called the Al-Ikhlas Islamic Network, argues in Arabic that lighting fires is an effective form of terrorism justified in Islamic law under the “eye for an eye” doctrine.

The posting – which instructs jihadis to remember “forest jihad” in summer months – says fires cause economic damage and pollution, tie up security agencies and can take months to extinguish so that “this terror will haunt them for an extended period of time”.

“Imagine if, after all the losses caused by such an event, a jihadist organisation were to claim responsibility for the forest fires,” the website says. “You can hardly begin to imagine the level of fear that would take hold of people in the United States, in Europe, in Russia and in Australia.”

With the nation heading into another hot, dry summer, Australian intelligence agencies are treating the possibility that bushfires could be used as a weapon of terrorism as a serious concern.

There is also hushed whispers that word of Islamic involvement has received a media black out, hence no mention of it through mainstream media channels. I have this on the QT from a pal in the media. Considering the magnitude of the tragedy – and the huge back lash that would follow from such a confirmation of events, this is not surprising.

My opinion? While I would say its unlikely, it is a possibility. Obviously, if you are a terrorist the hottest days of summer with high winds provide a devastating opportunity to the enemies of our country to hit us hard. It only takes a rogue terrorist with a box of matches and a car. Now that some of these barbarians are inside our gates, why would they not take this chance? If you are naive enough to think there are none willing to take such action, or that they wouldn’t do such a thing, think again..

For laughs here’s an article from some neo-Nazi site, obviously written by friends of Mel Gibson, who said that Zionists are to blame for the bush fires! See here. Now that is drawing a long bow…

But, the Islamic connection is purely speculation. Whatever the cause, it was a terrible tragedy for this country. Idea Fix sends its condolences out to families and friends of the lost. Vale Byran Naylor and Reg Evans.